Secure, High-Tech Data Center Coming to Columbus

Data Cave will begin construction of the new reinforced data storage center in July 2008

Operating under the company name of Data Cave, Inc., the company will invest more than $7 million to construct a two-story 78,000-square-foot high-security data center adjacent to Analytical Engineering's facility in southern Columbus.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus-based engine research and development firm Analytical Engineering, Inc. (AEI) announced today it has established a new sister company here that will create a secure, high-tech data center and 25 new jobs.

Operating under the company name of Data Cave, Inc., the company will invest more than $7 million to construct a two-story 78,000-square-foot high-security data center adjacent to Analytical Engineering's facility in southern Columbus.

"Creating an environment that attracts new job-creating investment from Hoosier companies and from businesses around the world is essential to Indiana's economic success.  Analytical Engineering's decision to start Data Cave and invest in Indiana is an indication that the environment we have created is working," said Governor Mitch Daniels.

Data Cave will begin construction of the new reinforced data storage center in July and will begin hiring information technology technicians to maintain the center's servers and network infrastructure later this year.

The new center, which will serve as an off-site secure electronic data storage center for businesses around the globe, will employ high-tech tools such as biometric hand scanner access, redundant fiber optic connectivity, supplemental power protection and a reinforced exterior to protect customers' data from threats ranging from hackers to Mother Nature.

"Data Cave is a natural expansion of many of our core competencies into a growing market," said Caleb Tennis, president of Data Cave.  "Locating this facility in Indiana adjacent to our sister company just makes sense.  By doing so, we are able to build the infrastructure of the facility at a lower cost than many other locations and have access to our current mix of highly talented professionals.  Those competitive advantages, coupled with the training programs and credits provided by the state and local community, will provide us a great pool of resources to grow this new business."

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Data Cave up to $225,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $36,500 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans.  The state will also provide the city of Columbus with a grant of up to $50,000 to offset the cost of extending fiber optic connectivity to the site.  Columbus will provide the company with property tax abatement and extend fiber optic connectivity to the new data center.

"Data Cave is a company for the future starting today," said Mayor Fred Armstrong.  "Columbus is on the map for technology companies.  We look forward to working with Data Cave today and into the future."

The announcement of Data Cave's decision to establish its operations in Columbus comes less than a month after Columbus-based LHP Technologies and Chinese-owned manufacturer Techtop announced a joint venture that will bring a new manufacturing and distribution center to the south central Indiana city, creating more than 60 new jobs.

About Data Cave
Data Cave is a state-of-the-art-computer data center designed with the needs of its high-tech and high-performance clients in mind.  When operational, the company's 78,000-square-foot data center will offer a high level of security, redundancy, and availability for mission critical computer applications.  For more information about Data Cave, call 812.376.6472 ext. 261 or visit www.thedatacave.com.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. Since Daniels created the IEDC, the state has posted three consecutive years of record-breaking job creation. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.